Merritt to Lillooet, through Spences Bridge

Leaving Merritt via Highway 8 we headed towards Spences Bridge.  The dry scrubby underbrush soon changed to beautiful green farmland the closer we got.

We followed the Thompson river along the Trans Canada highway 1 to Lytton, from there we headed north again towards Lillooet.

Along the way we spied a river rafting group.  These people have guts!  This river was really scary looking.

There were trains going in every direction on every track we saw. I think this would be a fantastic way to see BC.

Fascinating

This mountain, just north of Lytton was amazing, just peaking out (pun intended) from the clouds.

Is it really July in BC?

Day one... Nicola Valley

We're off and running, the road trip through BC to and around wine country has begun.  Toss a few things in the car... who am I kidding, the sucker is full to the roof and we'll be lucky to be able to see anything out of the back window.  Getting off the island is a bit of a nightmare, the Nanaimo to Horseshoe bay ferry has a one sailing wait, on a Tuesday yet, so we blast through to Duke Point.  A quick jaunt up the Coquihalla highway to Merritt BC and we stop for the night to visit family.  Our first official day of touring starts off the next morning in the beautiful Nicola Valley.  We head up to the Nicola Ranch and the Quilchena cattle company, for any history buffs, it was established in 1887.

The Murray United Church, built in 1876 (originally St. Andrew's Church) was the first church in the Nicola valley. The cemetery was established in 1878 with gravestones dating back to 1873.

A quick glass of wine and nibble at the Quilchena Hotel, est 1908 and a bit of shopping at the Nicola Ranch store and our first day is almost over! 

Heading west towards Lower Nicola we have the gorgeous Nicola lake on our left. 

Through Merritt to Lower Nicola we pass unbelievably rustic and gorgeous scenery.

Day one is only 1/2 over with the best weather ever and some stunning photo's for the memory banks! Now we're on to highway 97C, the Okanagan connector to Oliver.